Abstract: Biological cells are immobilized by forming a mixture of the cells and a first and second gel component, gelling the mixture with a gelling reagent and removing at least a portion of the first component to leave a gel containing the second component and the cells. Preferably, the first and second gel components are alignate and agarose, respectively, and the gelling reagent is calcium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to materials and more particularly to composite materials in which a selected substance is supported by a support material.A composite material in accordance with the present invention comprises porous hollow particles of an inorganic material in which there is supported a selected substance (such as chromagraphic organic gel, or a liquid for use in two-phase separation processes).The porous hollow particles may be formed from, for example, a material such as kieselguhr and/or an inorganic oxide.The porous hollow particles may be formed by coating a fugitive core material (e.g. organic beads) with inorganic material and heating to remove the fugitive core material.

Abstract: The invention discloses a composite material comprising a deformable gel retained within the pores of a porous rigid support material. In one example of a composite material in accordance with the invention the deformable gel is an organic polymeric material and the support material comprises discrete porous particles of inorganic material.A method for preparing composites in accordance with the invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: Proteases are separated from fluids by contacting a fluid with a porous inorganic material such as porous titania particles to sorb the protease and then eluting the protease from the inorganic material. Proteases which may be separated are the sulphydryl proteases including papain, stem bromelain, fruit bromelain, ficin, calotropain and mexicain. Elution of the protease may be carried out with plant juice from which protease has previously been removed. The porous inorganic material is preferably that prepared by mixing a finely divided sorptive inorganic material with a solid fugitive additive and a solvent to dissolve the fugitive, forming discrete particles from the resultant mixture and heating the particles to remove the solvent and fugitive to produce discrete particles of the inorganic material for contacting with the fluid.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the separation of macromolecules from a fluid substance containing the macromolecules.The process comprises contacting the fluid substance with discrete porous particles having an interconnected porosity throughout which provides an extended surface area and a pore structure such as will allow the macromolecules to permeate the particles and be sorbed, the discrete porous particles being selected such that a proportion thereof have acidic surfaces for contacting the macromolecules in the fluid substance and a proportion thereof have basic surfaces for contacting the macromolecules in the fluid substance.A process for the separation of protein from milk whey solution is also disclosed.